UFC 106: As Dustin Hazelett Hopes Karo Parisyan Gets Help, Dana White Cuts The One-Time Title Contender
Photo by Josh Hedges. Copyright Zuffa, LLC
The first thing UFC welterweight prospect “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (11-4) told Fighters.com Thursday evening when I called him for comment on his scheduled UFC 106 opponent “The Heat” Karo Parisyan’s (18-5) apparent withdrawal from their fight due to a recurring anxiety disorder was, “I just hope Karo gets the help he needs.”
Before tonight, Parisyan had also pulled out of a matchup versus Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-3) at UFC 88 in Atlanta in September 2008 and the whispers about Parisyan’s anxiety disorder loudened. Since then, Parisyan’s illness has become an open secret among the MMA community.
Thursday afternoon, UFC President Dana White announced via Twitter, “Karo Parisyan has fucked over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!”
“Again”, apparently, Parisyan’s illness has prevented him from a great matchup. But, notice the difference between Hazelett’s concerns about Parisyan’s illness and White’s callous reaction.
White also threatened, “[Parisyan] will not be fighting Saturday [at UFC 106 in Las Vegas] or ever again in the UFC!”
Parisyan debuted in the UFC six years ago with a first-round submission of Dave Strasser (25-8-3) at UFC 44 in Las Vegas. He’s 8-3 in the Octagon, with classic fights versus Nick Diaz (20-8) and The Ultimate Fighter 1 champion “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-2). Parisyan had earned a title shot versus then UFC champion seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (43-7), but was forced to withdraw with a physical injury.
Yet, after a notable career with the UFC, White showed unexplainable contempt for Parisyan and his illness in his reaction to Parisyan’s inability to fight.
Compare White’s reaction to Parisyan’s illness with White’s reaction to second-ranked heavyweight and UFC champion Brock Lesnar’s (4-1) recent serious intestinal disorder which has caused White to have to twice reschedule Lesnar’s next title defense versus sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (9-0). White told a post-UFC 105 press conference he and the UFC would do everything possible to help Lesnar recover and he told TMZ he was trying to get Lesnar transferred to the Mayo Clinic.
No Mayo Clinic treatment for Parisyan though? Is it the stigma that mental illnesses aren’t as serious as physical illnesses? Or, is it that Parisyan’s value to White has expired since Parisyan’s competitiveness has deteriorated while Lesnar’s star is on the rise?
Fighters.com won’t speculate about what’s in the heart and mind of White, but does think Parisyan and his illness deserve more respect and compassion. Parisyan isn’t afraid to fight, and never has been. He’s not missing fights because he isn’t training or isn’t committed. Parisyan wants to fight, trains to fight, shows up to fight, and then has an uncontrollable, excruciatingly frustrating inability to go through with the fighting career he’s excelled in his entire adult life.
Parisyan has a serious mental disorder. Twenty-three year old Hazelett is mature enough to understand and sympathize. Forty-year old White isn’t.
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UFC’s Dana White: I Tried To Help Karo Parisyan.
Posted: November 27, 2009Comments: 3 -
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Posted: November 11, 2009Comments: 0
Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. Parisian is a bitch, who has repeatedly pulled out of fights before. He fucked the UFC and the fans out of a great match-up. Sayonara “Heat”!!!
i would love to step in his place to put on a show for the fans and dana white! I have what it takes ! Get at me.THEAXMAN
Pulled out of 2 fights due to condition. His last fight was after a long lay off and a lackluster performance at that. The he was suspended. That was after a loss to Thiago Alves. It’s easy to see his image is tarnished!
From the promoter’s perspective, if he wasn’t taking fights so that he could get straightened out that’s one thing, but then dropping out after closing the deal 2x – that’s another. I would think, perhaps DW too, you should know if you are still too deep in you condition to take another fight. If you can’t tell whether you’re ready, then we really don’t want to depend on you!
Hey Dave aren’t you karo’s little bitch??? You fucking tool stop talking like a fag casue you’re a “interent warrior” punk!
I love you KAROOOOOOOOOO wish you the BEST you’re still a warrior and its becasue of you that I “persoanly” know alot of people starting watching mma when you came along and started dopping people on their heads like a ragdoll!!! After few fights hopefully in strikeforce dana will be kissing karo’s ass to bring him back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He’s a fine fighter but i understand why white wouldn’t want to take a chance on him. They depend on him to put on a good show and make the ufc money. If he can’t do that, then why would white want to invest in him. I think white is and always was a dick and he definitely over reacted about the situation but i understand why he is mad.